Chester Thomas Neely Jr, of Huntsville, passed away Wednesday, February 1, after a long illness. His family was gathered around him. Mr. Neely graduated from Lebanon High School and an Electronics Technical College, both in Lebanon, Ohio. Chester was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1950 – 1954. Tom had an illustrious baseball career both in the Navy and with the AA Chicago Cubs farm team. He retired from Avco Electronics in 1979 to pursue his own businesses which included HVAC, telephones, and furniture refinishing. Chester loved bird hunting, and travel with his wife Betty. He was honest, hardworking, talented and loved God, life, people, and pecans. The squirrels in Huntsville are coming down from the trees and the squirrels in heaven are running to hide.
Chester was preceded in death by his parents, Chester Thomas Neely Sr. and Myrtle Arnold; his siblings, Geraldine Toney, Imogene Halcomb, Elizabeth Noe, Edwin Neely; and his son, Dennis Wayne Neely.
Chester leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Betty Holmes Neely; his children, Brant Thomas Neely, Sr. (Peggy Jones Neely) and Angela Neely Rackard (Joseph Hansen); his grandchildren, Brant Neely, Jr. (BJ), David Hindman Jr., Brandon Neely, Alex Rackard, and Lucas Hansen; and his great-grandchildren, Chelsea Hindman, David Hindman III, Brant Neely III (Tripp), Cardin Neely, Harper Neely, and Weston Rackard. He also leaves behind a host of other family and friends who loved him dearly.
Visitation will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, in the chapel at Spry Funeral Home. Burial will proceed at Maple Hill Cemetery following the services.
